Congressional Report for Addressing Climate Crisis will help America Rebuild Better

(Washington, DC - June 30, 2020) “At a time when Americans are fighting through a public health pandemic and its economic fallout, the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis has provided an important report on how we can reinvigorate our COVID-battered economy and build the 100% clean future we need.

“We have the opportunity to rebuild a better, healthier and more just America. By investing in American clean energy, we can create a new generation of durable, good-paying jobs, reduce air pollution and combat the climate crisis. One of the key provisions is a transition of America’s diesel trucks to zero-emission alternatives, which can reduce health impacts in communities of color and other neighborhoods that have, for too long, suffered far more than their share of pollution and respiratory disease.

“The recommendations in this report seek to promote equity by prioritizing overburdened communities for clean energy and infrastructure investments. We can help break the cycle of environmental injustice by ensuring frontline communities are included in decision making.

“EDF has long supported the comprehensive climate solution pillars highlighted in this report—aggressively cutting methane pollution; promoting and investing in resilience to extreme weather along our coasts, in our communities and across our farmlands; transitioning to clean energy and a clean transportation fleet and advancing climate-ready fisheries management.

“To create a 100% clean economy, we need incentives to reduce climate pollution including making companies pay for the cost they are imposing on us through climate impacts.

“Chairwoman Castor and the Committee have put in the hard work to build the comprehensive plan we need to defeat the climate crisis. Now it is time for our elected leaders to turn this report into legislative action and provide our country with the opportunity to emerge from this challenge stronger, healthier, and safer.

“We are grateful to Speaker Pelosi for her leadership on the climate crisis, which threatens our economy, our communities, our health and the future of our children.”

• Fred Krupp, president, Environmental Defense Fund